Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/228

 who, after having read the document, declared that, in fact, he could not help shooting the person who had brought it. The General, however, consented to have the young man sent to Versailles, where the cruel jesting which was to be his punishment was continued for some time. In the end, however, he received a good dinner, of which he stood greatly in need, and was afterwards offered his liberty, which he refused, preferring to remain in Versailles sooner than return to Paris.

The night of the 1st of May was witness to two very important affairs, namely, the capture of the station of Clamart and the Château of Issy by the Versailles troops. The station is an important position, because it completely dominates the fort of Issy.

At 11 o'clock,, the 22d battalion of ''chasseurs à pied'' of General Berthe's brigade, which had been lying in ambush since 8 o'clock, approached the station in deep silence. "Qui vive?" cried the sentinel. "The 22d battalion of National Guards!" they replied, and rushed in with fixed bayonets. Two battalions of insurgents, and a company of Francs-Tireurs were in and about the station. The carnage for a short time was dreadful. Nearly two hundred insurgents were left dead on the spot, all killed by the bayonet and sword. Little quarter was given, as there were numerous deserters found among their number.

Almost at the same hour, two battalions of infantry belonging to the brigade of General de la Mariouse retook the Château of Issy. At this point the resistance was much more energetic than at the station of Clamart. The Château was first taken by the troops on the morning of the 30th, but during the negotiations of May 1st the insurgents managed to repossess themselves of it. The Communists defended themselves with the most determined bravery, and succeeded in making two hundred